Initiating-machine.



I. A. MAMAUX. INITIATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1908.

Patentgd Aug. 9, 1910.

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PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC A. MAMAUX, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

INITIATING-MACHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 9, 1910.

Application filed August 28, 1968. Serial No. 450,653.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC A. MAMAUX, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, re: siding at Pittsburg, in the countyof Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inInitiating-ldachines, of which the fol1owing is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to initiating machines, such as used by lodges,clubs and societies for the reception of new members.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine having the appearanceof a wei ht testing machine, wherein means is provided for subjectingthe operator of the machine to a harmless initiatory treatment, thatwill surprise and scare the operator to the delight and amusement ofspectators.

My invention aims to provide a machine that can be advantageously usedin the degree work of such societies, as the Elks and the Eagles, and tothis end, I have devised a machine for simultaneously subjecting acandidate for membership to an unexpected blow upon the body and a sprayof water upon the face, the blow being emphasized by the detonation of acap located in the machine. In constructing the machine, the same isfashioned after a testing device having a dial and gripping handles, thearrangement of which necessarily places an operator in proper positionto be operated upon, without suspicion as to the outcome of testing themachine.

The structural features of the invention embody a spring actuatedstriking board, a spring actuated trigger being released simultaneouslywith a pressure upon the syringe, all of which is accomplished by asimple and compact mechanism that will be hereinafter described indetail and then claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is abottom plan of my machine, F 2 is a cross sectional view taken on theline II of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a similar view taken 011 the line 111 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 4: is a similarview taken on the same line looking in the direction of the arrow B,Fig. 5 is a top plan of the machine, Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectionalView of the machine taken on the line VI of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a similarview taken on the line VII, and Fig.

. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to Fig. 6, illustratingthe machine in operation.

To put my invention into practice, I provide an oblong wood structureconsisting of side boards 1 and 2, end boards 3 and 4t, and a platform5. The platform is constructed of a plurality of planks or boards, thecentral one of which comprises a fixed section 6 and a movable section7, the latter constituting a striking board. This board or section 7upon-the under side and at the inner end thereof is provided withbearings 8 for a transverse trunnion pin 9, said pin being trunnioned inoppositely disposed depending bearings 10, carried by the platform 5.

The extreme inner end of the striking board 7 is provided with adepending eyelet 11 and connecting therewith are two coiled retractilesprings 12 having their opposite ends connected to the side boards 1 and2. These springs are arranged in V- shaped formation and are adapted tolift the outer end of the striking board or section 7 with sufi icientforce to strike a blow upon the body of the operator of the machine, aswill hereinafter appear. The springs as illustrated in Figs. 1, 6 and 7,have been broken away to clearly show the other parts of the machine,and it is in connection with these springs that I reserve a right to useturn-buckles or similar devices for increasing the tension of thesprings.

The outer end ,of the striking board or section 7 is retained in aclosed position by a depending beveled latch 13 having a notch 14-formed therein for a keeper 15, slida-bly mounted in oppositely disposeddepending bearings 16, carried by the plat-.

form 5. The keeper 15 is cut away as at 17 to provide clearance for thelatch, when the keeper is moved, and the ends of said keeper are bent atright angles, as at 18, to limit the movement of said keeper in thebearings 16. Connecting with one end of the keeper 15 is a coil spring19, said spring being attached to the platform and employed for normallyholding the keeper 15 in engagement with the beveled notched latch '18.

The platform 5 adjacent to the forward end thereof is provided withdepending bearings 20 for actuating rods 21 extending through theplatform and having the upper ends thereof provided with grippinghandles 22.

The lower ends of the actuating rods 21 sup-- port a transverse bar 23,and engaging the upper side of said bar is a curved crank arm 24 .of arock shaft 25, journaled longitudinally upon the under side of theplatform in depending bearings 26, carried by said platform. Theopposite end of the shaft extends to the spring held end of the keeper15 and is provided with a crank arm 27 adapted to impinge the end of thekeeper 15 and release the latch 13 and the striking board 7.

Upon the forward end of the platform and upon the fixed section 6 of thestriking board, intermediate the gripping handles 22 is arranged agraduated dial 28 having an indicator 29 which is carried by a verticalshaft 30, journaled in the fixed section 6 and the depending bearing 31,provided therefor. The lower end of-the shaft 30 carries a crank arm 32normally held in engagement with the curved crank arm 24 of the shaft 25by a coil spring 33, said spring being attached to one of the dependingbearings 20.

The inner end .of the striking board 7 is provided upon the under sidethereof with a transverse cleat 34, and when said striking board isreleased, said cleat is adapted to move a lever 35 fulcrumed between oneof the bearings 20 and a bearing 36. One end of the lever 35 is adaptedto compress a syringe or bulb 37, having hose connection 38 and 39 witha nozzle 40 and a receptacle 41 respectively. The former is arranged inthe fixed section 6 of the striking board and is' adapted to spray ordischarge water on the face of the operator of the machine, when thebulb 37 is compressed. The receptacle 41 is detachably mounted inbrackets 42 provided therefor beneath the platform 5. The opposite endof the lever 35 is adapted to impinge a spring held trigger 43 formingpart of a cap casing 44, carried by one of the brackets 42.

Operation: Before the machine is used for initiating purposes, water ora suitable fluid is placed in the receptacle 41 and an explosive capplaced in the casing 44, with the trigger in an elevated or setposition. This is easily accomplished by standing the ma chine upon oneend. With the machine in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 8, themachine has the appearance of a weight or lift testing machine, and assuch, it is described to the person to be initiated. The person thensteps upon the platform 5 and assumes the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 8, with the limbs spread apart and a foot at each side of thestriking board 7, care being taken that this striking section is notstood upon. The first elevating movement of the handles 22 swings theindicator 29 to the first graduation. This is accomplished through themedium of the transverse bar 23 raising the curved crank arm 24, and thecurvature of this arm is adapted to swing the crank arm 32 of the shaft30, carrying the indicator 29. A further upward movement of the handles22 rocks the shaft sulficiently to cause the crank arm 27 thereof toimpinge and move the keeper 15, releasing the latch 13 and allowing theboard 7 to strike the operator of the machine with considerable force.Simultaneous with the blow of the striking board, the transverse cleat34 moves the fulcrumed lever 35, causing said lever to strike thetrigger 43 and explode the cap. The lever 35 also compresses the syringeor bulb 37 and forces a quantity of water from said syringe or bulb uponthe face of the operator. The beveled latch 13 permits of the strikingboard 7 being closed, and the spring held keeper 15 returns the shaft toits normal position, while the crank arm 24 of said shaft forcesdownwardly upon the transverse bar 23 and lowers the handles 22 to theirnormal position. The spring 33 of the crank arm 32 returns the indicator29 to its normal position. By placing another cap in the casing 44 andrcsetting the trigger 43, the machine is in condition for further use.

With the platform 5 properly constructed and the striking board 7 neatlyfitted in the platform 5, it will be impossible for an operator todetect this movable section of the platform. The nozzle 40 is made asmall size and counter sunk in the fixed section (3 whereby it will notattract attention or raise any suspicion. as to the real purpose andoperation of the machine.

Vhile in the drawings forming a part of this application there isillustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, I would have itunderstood that the elements therein can be varied or changed, as toshape, proportion and manner of assemblage, without departing from thescope of the invention.-

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

1. A machine of the type described embodying an oblong structure, aplatform carried thereby, a striking board trunnioncd in said platform,coil springs connecting said striking board and said structure forelevating the outer end thereof, a depending beveled notched latchcarried by the outer end of said board, a spring held keeper arrangedbeneath said platform for engaging said latch and holding said board ina closed position, a rock shaft journaled beneath said platform andhaving a crank arm adapted to impinge said keeper, a curved crank armcarried by said rock shaft, handle rods arranged in said platform, atransverse bar supported by said rods and adapted to engage said curvedcrank arm, a graduated dial arranged upon said platform, an indicator inconnection with said dialand adapted to be actuated by said curved crankarm, a fulcrumed lever supported beneath said platform, a transversecleat carried by the inner end of said board and adapted to strikesaidlever, a syringe located beneath said platform and adapted to becompressed by one end of said lever, a receptacle located beneath saidplatform and having a hose connection with said syringe, a nozzlelocated in said platform and having a hose connection with said syringe,a cap casing supported beneath said platform, and a sprlng actuatedtrigger in connection with said cap casing and adapted to be struck bythe opposite end of said lever, substantially as described.

2. A machine of the type described comprising an oblong structure, aplatform carried thereby, a striking board trunnioned in said platformand forming a part thereof, springs located in said structure andconnecting with the inner end of said board for elevating the outer endthereof, a latch carried by the outer end of said board, a spring heldkeeper for engaging said latch, a rock shaft arranged longitudinallyWithin said structure for moving said keeper, a curved crank arm carriedby said shaft, handle rods arranged in said platform, a transverse barconnecting said rods for elevating said curved crank arm, a dialarranged upon said platform, an indicator in connection with said dialand adapted to be actuated by said curved crank arm, a lever fulcrumeclin said structure, a cleat carried by the inner end of said bar formoving said lever, a syringe compressible by said lever for discharginga fluid above said platform, a cap casing located in said structure, anda spring actu ated trigger in connection with said casing and adapted tobe struck by said lever.

3. A machine of the type described com prising an oblong structure, atrunnioned striking board carried by said structure, springs connectingwith the inner end of said board for elevating the outer end thereof, aspring held keeper arranged in said structure for normally holding saidboard in a closed position, a rock shaft arranged in said structure formoving said keeper, handle rods arranged in said structure and extendingabove said structure, a transverse bar carried by said rods for rockingsaid shaft, a dial arranged upon said structure, an indicator inconnection with said dial and adapted to be actuated by a movement ofsaid shaft, a lever fulcrumecl in said structure and adapted to be movedwith the inner end of said board, a syringe compressible by one end ofsaid lever for discharging Water above said structure, and a springactuated trigger adapted to be struck by the opposite end of said lever,substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. A machine of the type described comprising an oblong structure, atrunnioned striking board carried by said structure, springs connectingwith the inner end of said board for elevating the outer end thereof, aspring held keeper arranged in said structure for normally holding saidboard in a closed position, a rock shaft arranged in said structure fornormally holding said board in a closed position, a rock shaft arrangedin said structure for moving said keeper, handle rods arranged in saidstructure and extending above said structure, a transverse bar carriedby said rods for rock ing said shaft, a dial arranged upon saidstructure, an indicator in connection with said dial and adapted to beactuated by a movement of said shaft, a lever fulcrumed in saidstructure, and adapted to be moved with the inner end of said board, anda syringe compressible by one end of said lever for discharging Waterabove said structure.

5. A machine of the type described com prising an oblong structure, anormally closed spring actuated striking board trunnioned in saidstructure, a keeper arranged in said structure for normally holding saidboard in a closed position, a rock shaft arranged in said structure forengaging said keeper and releasing said board, handle rods extendinginto said structure for actuating said rock shaft, a dial arranged uponsaid structure, an indicator in connection vvith said dial and adaptedto be actuated by the movement of said rock shaft, a fulcrumed leverarranged in said structure and adapted to be moved by a movement of saidboard, and a syringe compressible by said lever for discharging waterabove said structure.

6. A machine of the type described comprising an oblong structure, anormally closed spring actuated striking board trunnioned in saidstructure, a keeper arranged in said structure for normally holding saidboard in a closed position, a rock shaft arranged in said structure forengaging said keeper and releasing said board, handle rods extendinginto said structure for actuating said rock shaft, a dial arranged uponsaid structure, an indicator in connection with said dial and adapted tobe actuated by the movement of said rock shaft, a fulcrumed leverarranged in said structure and adapted to be moved by a movement of saidboard, and a trigger actuated by said lever.

7. A machine comprising an oblong structure, a spring actuated strikingboard trunnioned in said structure, handle rods extending into saidstructure, a keeper arranged in said structure for normally holding saidboard in a closed position, means actuated, by said handle rods formoving said keeper and releasing said board, a dial located upon saidstructure, an indicator in connection With said dial and actuated bysaid means,

means arranged Within said structure and actuated by the movement ofsaid board for discharging Water from said structure, and means actuatedby the movement of said board for causing a detonation Within saidstructure.

8. A machine comprising an oblong structure, a spring actuated strikingboard trunnioned in said structure, handle rods extending into saidstructure, a keeper arranged in said structure for normally holding saidboard in a closed position, means actuated by said handle rods formoving said keeper and releasing said board, a dial located upon saidstructure, an indicator in connection with said dial and actuated bysaid means, and means arranged Within said structure and actuated by themovement of said board for discharging Water from said structure.

9. A machine comprising an oblong structure, a spring actuated strlkingboard trunnioned in said structure, handle rods extending into saidstructure, a keeper arranged in said structure for normally holding saidboard in a closed position, means actuated by said handle rods formoving said keeper and releasing said board, a dial located upon saidstructure, an indicator in connection With said dial and actuated bysaid means, and means actuated by the movement of said board for causinga detonation .Within said structure.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ISAAC A. MAMAUX.

Witnesses MAX H. SROLOVITZ, K. H. BUTLER.

